Archive | October, 2015

Srinagar, Oct 31 (PTI) National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today expressed his displeasure over the deadlock in talks between India and Pakistan, saying the two nations should not close the doors on dialogue to solve the Kashmir issue as its absence was destructive for Kashmir.

Slamming the war of words between the two countries, he asked India and Pakistan to desist from making statements which were “bound to widen the gap”.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister suggested more people-to-people contact and ease visa rule for easy movement of people from either side of the Line of Control (LoC) to bridge the gap.

He asked India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to “think alike and act in unison” to fight terrorism, without considering that one is a big nation and the other is small.

“No dialogue (between India and Pakistan) is a cause of destruction for us (Kashmir). India and Pakistan have to talk and solve the issue. The problem has to be resolved and they should not close the doors on dialogue,” he said, after an interaction with a civil society delegation from cross-LoC at his Gupkar residence here.

A 50 member delegation, including 11 from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, was in Srinagar for a three-day cross-LoC conference in which all stakeholders were urged to restart the processes towards resolving the Kashmir issue.

Abdullah said, “small pebbles” can be removed by dialogue between the two countries at various levels and then both the Prime Ministers can talk to resolve the issues.

“This is not something impossible. If both of them feel that the nations are getting destroyed due to the issue, then they should not stop the dialogue,” he said, and suggested back channel talks to reach a consensus to address outstanding issues.

Terming as “wrong” the war of words between the two countries, he said, we should desist from such statements which are bound to widen the gap, instead of bridging it.

New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday once again called for preserving the multiplicity and pluralistic character of the country and said India has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance

The President, who had on a number of occasions spoken against growing intolerance in the last three weeks, was speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Delhi High Court here

“Our country has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance. Our pluralistic character has stood the test of time. Our ancient civilisation has over the centuries accommodated our diversities

“Multiplicity is our collective strength which must be preserved at all costs. It finds reflection in the various provisions of our Constitution,” Mukherjee said at the function which was attended by Chief Justice of India H L Dattu, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court G Rohini, Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

In the wake of the Dadri lynching and subsequent incidents, the President had asked a question whether tolerance and acceptance of dissent are on the wane in the country during a function at his home town at Suri in West Bengal on October 19

This was followed by an appeal to people for practising tolerance and to accept differences while respecting dissent

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also endorsed the President’s remarks and asked people to ignore rabble rousing by leaders and fringe elements

The President’s appeals came against the backdrop of lynching incident in Dadri in which a Muslim was killed on suspicion of eating beef, and a string of incidents like the one in Mumbai where BJP ally Shiv Sena forced cancellation of a music concert by Pakistani legend Ghulam Ali and talks between Indian and Pakistani cricket board Chiefs and blackened the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni

The killing of a truck conductor in Udhampur and a man in Himachal Pradesh on suspicion of cow smuggling for slaughter have also raised political temperature in the country that had triggered controversial statements by some BJP leaders.

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) The Delhi High Court today quashed the AAP government’s decision to get the accounts of three private power distribution companies audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

“We have allowed the petitions of the discoms,” a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said while clarifying that the entire audit process carries out so far as well as the draft report of the CAG would be “non-est” and would have no bearing any more.

The discoms — Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL), BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd — had challenged the AAP government’s January 7, 2014, decision ordering a CAG audit of their accounts.

The discoms had also challenged an order of a single judge of the high court who had refused to stall the CAG audit.

The single judge, in his January 24, 2014 order, had also asked the discoms to “fully cooperate with CAG in the audit process”.

While allowing the discoms’ pleas today, the court dismissed a PIL filed by NGO United RWAs Joint Action (URJA) which had sought an audit of the discoms’ accounts by CAG.

Earlier, the city government had told the court that a CAG audit of the private discoms here was necessary as these companies discharged “public function”.

The discoms are a 51:49 per cent joint venture between the private companies and the Delhi government.

The government had said it was not trying to stop their (discoms’) functioning or interfere in it but was only trying to bring them under public audit, as 49 per cent stake in the discoms was held by the Delhi gove

Gopalganj, Oct 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today attacked the grand alliance over corruption issue in Lalu Prasad’s home-turf in Bihar, listing over 30 alleged scams including fodder scam under RJD and JD(U) during last 25 years and asked voters to punish those who “looted” the state.

Reaching out to youths with promise of employment and bringing an end to distress migration, Modi said he wants to remind them of the scams that happened in past here.

“I am not talking about the scam in which your sir (Lalu) was convicted. I do not even talk about that fodder. These are the people with a long list of scams. Should they get a chance to engage in more such scams? Should people involved in such scams be punished or not? People, who looted Bihar in this manner should be rejected for ever,” Modi said.

Reminding people of the coal and 2G scam at Centre during UPA, Modi said that there has not been any such scam in last 16 months since he came to power.

“Did any complaint of corruption of even one rupee come out. They (rivals) heap all kind of abuses at me but none of them have accused me of corruption of even one rupee. If the loot of money in Bihar is put to an end, will it not be a service to Bihar.

“You have put your faith in me in Lok Sabha polls. Trust me once again even in this Assembly polls. I have to check this game of loot in Bihar. Give me a chance to serve you,” Modi said insisting that the assembly polls in the state is an oppurtunity to punish those who are “looting” it.

New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Strongly pitching for UN Security Council reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today cautioned that UNSC ran the risk of becoming irrelevant unless it adjusted to the changing world even as he called for concerted efforts to deal with growing challenge of terrorism.

In his address to the inaugural session of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), Modi said the world was undergoing political, economic, technological and security transition on a scale and speed rarely seen in recent history and yet the global institutions reflected the circumstances of the century that “we left behind”.

“These institutions have served us well, but unless they adjust to the changing world, they risk becoming irrelevant.

We cannot say what will replace them in an uncertain future.

But, we might have a more fragmented world that is less capable of dealing with the challenges of our era. That is why India advocates reforms in global institutions,” Modi said.

The summit is being attended by representatives of over 50 countries including 41 Heads of State and Government of African countries.

“This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations.

Our institutions cannot be representative of our world, if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity. That is why India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council,” Modi said.

Calling India and Africa two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy, Modi said both sides must work together to defeat terrorism.

“Today, in many parts of the world, the light of a bright future flickers in the storm of violence and instability. When terror snuffs out life on the streets and beaches, and in malls and schools of Africa, we feel your pain as our own.

And, we see the links that unite us against this threat.

“We also see that when our oceans are no longer safe for trade, we all suffer together. And, when nations are caught in conflict within, no one around remains untouched. And, we know that our cyber networks bring opportunities, but also carry huge risks. So, when it comes to security, distance no longer insulates us from each other,” he said.

Modi said both sides can deepen cooperation in maritime security and hydrography as well as countering terrorism and extremism and stressed on the need to have a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to deal with the menace.

“We will also provide support for African Union s peacekeeping efforts. And, we will train African peacekeepers here and in Africa. We must also have a stronger voice in decisions on UN Peacekeeping Missions,” he said and noted that Africa has its concerns about security and stability, especially from terrorism and extremism and hoped its leadership will rise to the challenges.

Ahmedabad, Oct 29 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to the State government and city Crime Branch in connection with a plea challenging the case of sedition against Patel quota leader Hardik Patel.

Justice J B Pardiwala today issued notices to Gujarat Government and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) K N Patel of city Crime Branch while considering the plea seeking quashing of petitions filed by Hardik and his associates Alpesh Kathiria and Amul Patel.

The high court also instructed the state authorities not to take coercive action against Alpesh and Amul till further hearing. The case will now come up on November 2.

The city Crime Branch on October 21 charged Hardik and other members of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) Chirag, Dinesh, Ketan, Alpesh and Amrish Patel in the case of sedition and waging war against the State government.

However, PAAS leader Amul Patel, whose name was not mentioned in the FIR as an accused but in the transcript of phone interception, has also challenged the Crime Branch’s action, apprehending his arrest.

The six people have been booked under IPC Sections 121 (waging war against the government), 124 (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) and 153-B (assertions prejudicial to national integrity).

The city Crime Branch in its FIR against Hardik and five others, said the young leader had allegedly instigated his community to adopt violent means to wage “war against Gujarat government”.

The probe agency had also put transcripts of various telephonic conversations and speeches of PAAS members and Hardik, wherein they had allegedly instigated the agitators of Patel community to wage war against the government.

The complaint was lodged against PAAS leaders for allegedly inciting violence on August 25-26 that erupted in several districts after Hardik’s massive rally held here on August 25.

This is the second case of sedition against Hardik.

The first case was filed by Surat Police for allegedly advising a Patel youth “to kill policemen rather than commit suicide”.

The 22-year-old firebrand leader and his three aides are currently in the custody of city Crime Branch in connection with the second sedition case.

New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held bilateral talks with heads of several African nations during which UN reforms, combating challenge of terrorism and boosting trade and investment, particularly in oil and gas sector, figured prominently

The African leaders appreciated India’s development projects in the continent and sought deepening of ties in diverse sectors including health care, education and capacity building

In his meeting, South African President Jacob Zuma strongly called for reform of global governance system and said the UN structure which was set up after the second world war cannot remain relevant in 21st century

He said it was important that all like minded countries come together to ensure reform of the UN, particularly the UN Security Council, observing that many conflicts in the world including the Syrian crisis could not be resolved because of veto powers of the UNSC member countries, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said

The heads of state and government of African countries are here to participate in the India Africa Forum Summit tomorrow

There was a detailed discussion between Zuma and Modi on ways to tackle threat of terrorism, with both stressing that there was a need for concrete strategy to fight the menace in a united way

The South African leader said coming together of African countries with India showed to the world that they no longer are dependent on former colonial powers

The Prime Minister also met Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, and Chairman of African Union. Both the leaders discussed issues of common interest, including UN reforms and the threat of terrorism

Mugabe is the co-chair for the India Africa Forum Summit, and the two leaders reviewed the preparations for the Summit

The Prime Minister also met President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana during which both sides reviewed the “warm” bilateral ties

Growing bilateral trade came up for discussion and both leaders stressed on the need to step up engagement in sectors like agriculture, IT, skill development, cyber security and maritime security. .

Lahore, Oct 28 (PTI) Former president Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan supported and trained terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba in 1990s to carry out militancy in Kashmir.

“In 1990s the freedom struggle began in Kashmir…At that time Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and 11 or 12 other organisations were formed. We supported them and trained them as they were fighting in Kashmir at the cost of their lives,” Musharraf said in an interview to Dunya News on Sunday.

The former army chief was responding to a question about action against LeT’s Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

He said Saeed and Lakhvi-type people enjoyed the status of heroes at that time.

“The Kashmiri freedom fighters including Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi were our heroes at that time. Later on the religious militancy turned into terrorism. Now they (referring to militants in Pakistan) are killing their own people here and this should be controlled and stopped,” he said.

To a question whether Saeed and Lakhvi should also be “controlled and stopped”, Musharraf said: “No comments.”

Musharraf said that “religious militancy” was started by Pakistan which brought militants from all over the world to fight against Soviet forces.

He said in 1979 Pakistan was in favour of religious militancy.

“We trained Taliban and sent them to fight against Russia. Taliban, Haqqani, Osama Bin Laden and Zawahiri were our heroes then. Later they became villains,” he said, adding that people need to understand the whole environment at that time.

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today rejected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s contention that police “raided” Kerala House following a complaint that its canteen was serving beef and described police action as a “preventive measure”.

Bassi said that the Kerala House staff have apprised him of the absence of beef items on their menu list and that police personnel were deployed as part of preventive measures to prevent any sort of protest.

“It was not a raid. It in fact was a preventive measure as per our standing operating procedures. We had alerted their private security staff as soon as we got a call to prevent any protest. We also deployed possible security measures there and alerted the staff working there,” Bassi told reporters.

On being asked about reports that the state guest house removed “beef curry” from their menu before police could reach, he said, “I don’t have any knowledge about it…we have been informed by the staff that there was no beef item on their menu list.”

“We received a call by a person who had come into notice for taking law in his own hands. So, we alerted the staff working in Kerala house beforehand,” the Delhi top cop said.

Bassi cited the Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 1994, under which slaughter of cows, calves of cows, bulls and bullocks is illegal to justify police enquiry at Kerala House.

“We have kept a precautionary watch there to ensure there will be no violation of law and order,” he added.

A PCR call complaining about beef curry being served at Kerala House here threw police into a tizzy yesterday and a team had to be sent there to avert any “untoward incident”.

The call was received by the police control room around 4.15 PM, and the caller, claiming to be from a fringe right-wing group, told the police that beef was being served at Kerala House.

The policemen took no chance and the input was immediately passed on to Parliament Street police station, from where a team was sent to Kerala House to deal with any potential violence.

Sitamarhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Hitting back at Nitish Kumar, who yesterday mouthed a limerick set to a film song to attack him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today likened JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance to “three idiots”, advised the Chief Minister to perfect the art of “Mushaira” and practise it at leisure after the Bihar polls.

“I have been noticing that Laluji entertains well and Bihar is getting some entertainment after many years. But these days there is an intense rivalry going on between Laluji and Nitishji on many issues–protecting the criminals, doing nepotism, breaking off from truth. Now the competition is also in the field of entertainment.

“Yesterday, I saw Nitishji doing some Mushaira. He felt that he will call some courtiers and journalists, recite poems and defeat Lalu by starting a new form of entertainment. I knew there are three partners in the grand alliance–Congress RJD and JD(U). But I wonder why Nitish Babu chose a song from the film Three Idiots for his first Mushaira. Even if you wanted to parody a poem why did you think of the Three Idiots,” Modi said addressing a rally in Sitamarhi.

Kumar, the grand alliance’s chief ministerial candidate, had yesterday mocked Modi for not keeping promises and his frequent trips abroad using a song from Bollywood blockbuster ‘Three Idiots’.

(He was like the blowing wind, from Gujarat he came with promise to bring back black money, where has he gone? Find him. While we worry about the country, he travels abroad; While price rise bothers us, he tells us only his ‘mann ki baat. Always busy clicking selfies, he promised to bring back Dawood. Where has he gone? Find him.)

Hitting back, Modi said, “What a game of entertainment Nitish Babu! You still have a week’s time. Spend it doing this. Call your four-six courtiers, hold a Mushaira.

“Practise it, perfect it, you will get many opportunities after November 8 (the day of counting). You can then sing at leisure songs of your suffering and shed tears ruing why you left someone, why you joined someone. Keep writing poems on all this and keep shedding tears,” Modi said.

He was apparently referring to Kumar breaking ties with BJP in June 2013 after being together for 17 years following Modi’s appointment as his party’s campaign chief for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and then joining hands with his arch rival RJD chief Lalu Prasad for the Assembly elections in Bihar.

Asserting that leaders of the the anti-BJP grand alliance have “panicked over impending defeat”, Modi accused them of taking to “lies, cheating and betrayal” and repeatedly attacked Nitish over his meeting with a tantrik (occultist)